Formula One’s drivers opted against boycotting the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix because government ministers assured them security measures were being “elevated to the maximum”, according to the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA).
F1’s 20 drivers held a remarkable four hour meeting on Friday evening as they resisted F1’s calls to race on as normal following an attack on an oil depot just 10 km away from the Jeddah circuit.
At 2.30 on Saturday morning, F1 team bosses and CEO Stefano Domenicali emerged from a separate meeting, attended by GPDA director George Russell, and insisted the race was going ahead as planned.
The GPDA said it was natural for drivers to have had reservations about the race given the circumstances.
“Yesterday was a difficult day for Formula One and a stressful day for us Formula One drivers,” the statement said.
“Perhaps it is difficult to comprehend if you have…
